Abstract:
Background: Searching for effective remedies from natural sources has been given special attention
due to increasing DM prevalence, side effects, affordability, and availability issues associated with
current anti-diabetic medications. H. arborescens is traditionally utilized for the treatment of diabetes.
Yet, no in vivo study was conducted to substantiate these claims. So, this study was conducted to
evaluate the anti-diabetic effects of hydromethanolic and solvent fractions of H. arborescens leaves in
mice
Methods: Normoglycemic and oral glucose-loaded mice models were used to study hypoglycemic and
antihyperglycemic effects of H. arborescens leaf extract, respectively. In vivo anti-diabetic effects of
crude extract, n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and distilled water fractions were evaluated in single dose-treated
diabetic mice while crude extract and ethyl acetate fraction were used in daily repeated dose-treated
mice models.
Results: Leaf extract of H. arborescens was nontoxic at the limit dose of 2000 mg/kg. Crude extract
at 400 mg/kg dose induced significant (P<0.01) hypoglycemia in normoglycemic mice whereas in oral
glucose loaded mice, significant (P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively) BGL reductions were seen at 200
and 400 mg/kg doses. In single dose-treated diabetic mice, BGL reductions in crude extract, n-hexane,
and ethyl acetate fractions were significant (P<0.01) at 200 mg/kg dose while (P<0.001) at 400mg/kg
dose and (P<0.05) in 100 mg/kg dose ethyl acetate fraction treated groups. Crude extract 100 mg/kg
and all doses of distilled water fraction showed no significant BGL reduction. In daily repeated dosetreated diabetic mice, both crude extract and ethyl acetate fraction at 200 and 400mg/kg doses showed
significant (P<0.001) BGL reduction while (P<0.05) in 100 mg/kg ethyl acetate treated group.
Significant (P<0.001) weight gain was observed in both crude extract and ethyl acetate fraction at
400mg/kg dose, and (P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively) in crude extract and ethyl acetate 200mg/kg
dose treated groups. Significant (P<0.001) TC, TG, LDL, and VLDL reductions and HDL increments
were observed by crude extract and ethyl acetate fraction at 200 and 400 mg/kg doses.
Conclusion: Heteromorpha arborescens hydromethanolic leaves extract induced hypoglycemia at
higher doses in normoglycemic and dose-dependent anti-hyperglycemia in oral glucose loaded mice.
It showed significant BGL reduction in single and daily repeated dose-treated diabetic mice
